Machine system, machine control computer, base software application, computer-readable recording medium, and machine control method for intercommunication with machines

ABSTRACT

A machine system includes two machines, a computer communicably connected to the machines, and a base software application and an operation software application installed in the computer. The base software application includes a first communication module that is a program portion to execute transmission and reception of first machine information to be outputted from each machine and second command information to be outputted to each machine, and a second communication module that is a program portion to execute transmission and reception of first command information to be inputted from the operation software application to the base software application and second machine information to be outputted from the base software application to the operation software application.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/444,288, filed on Feb. 27, 2017 claims priorityto Japanese Patent Applications Nos. 2016-037956 filed Feb. 29, 2016 and2016-256941 filed Dec. 28, 2016. The disclosures of all above-listedprior-filed applications are hereby incorporated by reference herein intheir entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a machine system, a machine controlcomputer, a base software application, a computer-readable recordingmedium, and a machine control method for establishing intercommunicationwith a plurality of machines.

2. Description of Related Art

Conventionally, production planning systems make production plans aboutproducts to be produced, the number of the products, delivery dates,machines to be used, production processes, etc. Based on the productionplans made by the production planning systems, operators operate machinetools, industrial robots, etc., in production sites. The operators ofthe production sites transmit machine operation information, actualproduction data, etc., to the production planning systems to performquality control, process control, etc.

For example, there is a method in which process information is made froma product item object and an operation object, and assignmentinformation is made from the process information and a resource object(for example, refer to WO/2007/105298).

Also, there is a method in which device information on a machine tool ora measurement instrument is periodically collected at establishedintervals. The collected device information is stored in a database inassociation with collection times, and sent to an external device (forexample, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No.2004-62276).

In recent years, the diversification of market needs, short product lifecycles, and intensified competition in a global market cause an increasein the variety of products and an increase in sales fluctuations.Accordingly, it is required to produce a wide variety and variousnumbers of products, in order to produce the products dynamically intandem with the market needs.

Thus, cellular manufacturing in which a plurality of machines areintegrated into one production cell, and production is performed on aprocess-by-process basis in units of the production cells is proposed.According to the cellular manufacturing, the single production cell canproduce a plurality of types of products. The number of the productioncells can be increased or decreased in accordance with product quantity.The layout of the production cell can be changed depending on a changeof the types of products to be produced.

Furthermore, cell control systems each of which controls a plurality ofmachines installed in a production site through an intranet, whilereceiving a production plan command from the production planning systemover the Internet, are developed. The cell control systems are expectedto operate the machines by the command from the production planningsystem situated in a place away from the production site and toautomatically collect and collectively manage various types ofinformation from each machine in real time.

In the above cell control systems, a specific operation softwareapplication is installed into the cell control system to establishintercommunication between each machine and the cell control system andto perform the operation of each machine. In this case, information isrequired to be transmitted and received among a base softwareapplication of the cell control system, the operation softwareapplication, and each machine. At this time, it is also required tomanage the operation software application installed in the cell controlsystem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a machine system that can transmit andreceive information among a base software application, an operationsoftware application, and each machine and manage the transmission andreception of the information.

One aspect of the disclosure may be a machine system that includes amachine and a machine control computer communicably connected to themachine. A base software application and an operation softwareapplication are installed in the computer.

The base software application includes:

a first communication module that is a program portion to enable thecomputer to receive first machine information in a machine-specific dataformat outputted from the machine;

a second communication module that is a program portion to enable thecomputer to output second machine information in an operation softwareapplication-specific data format to the operation software application;

a program portion for storing the first machine information and thesecond machine information in a memory unit included in the computer;and

a program portion for enabling the computer to convert the first machineinformation into the second machine information.

The machine has the function of outputting the state of the machine tothe computer as the first machine information.

The operation software application is a program using the second machineinformation outputted from the second communication module as inputinformation.

Another aspect may be a machine system that includes at least twomachines and a machine control computer communicably connected to themachines. A base software application and an operation softwareapplication are installed in the computer.

The base software application includes:

a first communication module that is a program portion to enable thecomputer to receive first machine information in a machine-specific dataformat outputted from each machine in association with identificationinformation of each machine;

a second communication module that is a program portion to enable thecomputer to output second machine information in an operation softwareapplication-specific data format to the operation software applicationin association with the identification information of each machine;

a program portion for storing the first machine information and thesecond machine information in a memory unit included in the computer inassociation with the identification information of each machine; and

a program portion for enabling the computer to convert the first machineinformation into the second machine information.

Each machine has the function of outputting the state of the machine tothe computer as the first machine information in association with theidentification information of the machine.

The operation software application is a program using the second machineinformation outputted from the second communication module as inputinformation.

Another aspect may be a machine system that includes a machine and amachine control computer communicably connected to the machine. A basesoftware application and an operation software application are installedin the computer.

The base software application includes:

a first communication module that is a program portion to enable thecomputer to receive first machine information in a machine-specific dataformat outputted from the machine and transmit second commandinformation in the machine-specific data format to the machine;

a second communication module that is a program portion to enable thecomputer to input first command information in an operation softwareapplication-specific data format from the operation software applicationand output second machine information in the operation softwareapplication-specific data format to the operation software application;

a program portion for storing the first machine information, the secondmachine information, the first command information, and the secondcommand information in a memory unit included in the computer;

a program portion for enabling the computer to convert the first machineinformation into the second machine information; and

a program portion for enabling the computer to convert the first commandinformation into the second command information.

The machine has the functions of outputting the state of the machine tothe computer as the first machine information and determining anoperation to be performed by the machine based on the second commandinformation.

The operation software application is a program to enable the computerto generate the first command information for the machine based on thesecond machine information inputted from the second communicationmodule, and output the first command information to the secondcommunication module.

Another aspect may be a machine control computer communicably connectedto a machine. A base software application and an operation softwareapplication are installed in the computer.

The base software application includes:

a first communication module that is a program portion to enable thecomputer to receive first machine information in a machine-specific dataformat outputted from the machine;

a second communication module that is a program portion to enable thecomputer to output second machine information in an operation softwareapplication-specific data format to the operation software application;

a program portion for storing the first machine information and thesecond machine information in a memory unit included in the computer;and

a program portion for enabling the computer to convert the first machineinformation into the second machine information.

The operation software application is a program using the second machineinformation outputted from the second communication module as inputinformation.

Another aspect may be a machine control computer communicably connectedto at least two machines. A base software application and an operationsoftware application are installed in the computer.

The base software application includes:

a first communication module that is a program portion to enable thecomputer to receive first machine information in a machine-specific dataformat outputted from each machine in association with identificationinformation of each machine;

a second communication module that is a program portion to enable thecomputer to output second machine information in an operation softwareapplication-specific data format to the operation software applicationin association with the identification information of each machine;

a program portion for storing the first machine information and thesecond machine information in a memory unit included in the computer inassociation with the identification information of each machine; and

a program portion for enabling the computer to convert the first machineinformation into the second machine information.

The operation software application is a program using the second machineinformation outputted from the second communication module as inputinformation.

Another aspect may be a machine control computer communicably connectedto a machine. A base software application and an operation softwareapplication are installed in the computer.

The base software application includes:

a first communication module that is a program portion to enable thecomputer to receive first machine information in a machine-specific dataformat outputted from the machine and transmit second commandinformation in the machine-specific data format to the machine;

a second communication module that is a program portion to enable thecomputer to input first command information in an operation softwareapplication-specific data format from the operation softwareapplication, and output second machine information in the operationsoftware application-specific data format to the operation softwareapplication;

a program portion for storing the first machine information, the secondmachine information, the first command information, and the secondcommand information in a memory unit included in the computer;

a program portion for enabling the computer to convert the first machineinformation into the second machine information; and

a program portion for enabling the computer to convert the first commandinformation into the second command information.

The operation software application is a program to enable the computerto generate the first command information for the machine based on thesecond machine information inputted from the second communicationmodule, and output the first command information to the secondcommunication module.

Another aspect may be a base software application installed in a machinecontrol computer communicably connected to a machine, together with anoperation software application.

The base software application enables the computer to execute:

receiving first machine information in a machine-specific data formatoutputted from the machine to the computer;

converting the first machine information into second machine informationin an operation software application-specific data format; and

outputting the second machine information to the operation softwareapplication.

Another aspect may be a base software application installed in a machinecontrol computer communicably connected to at least two machines,together with an operation software application.

The base software application enables the computer to execute:

receiving first machine information in a machine-specific data formatoutputted from each machine to the computer in association withidentification information of each machine;

converting the first machine information into second machine informationin an operation software application-specific data format; and

outputting the second machine information to the operation softwareapplication in association with the identification information of eachmachine.

Another aspect may be a base software application installed in a machinecontrol computer communicably connected to a machine, together with anoperation software application.

The base software application enables the computer to execute:

receiving first machine information in a machine-specific data formatoutputted from the machine to the computer;

converting the first machine information into second machine informationin an operation software application-specific data format;

outputting the second machine information to the operation softwareapplication;

receiving first command information in the operation softwareapplication-specific data format from the operation softwareapplication;

converting the first command information into second command informationin the machine-specific data format; and

outputting the second command information to the machine.

Another aspect may be a machine control method for controlling at leastone machine by a machine control computer in which a base softwareapplication and an operation software application are installed. Themachine control method includes the steps of:

by the computer, receiving first machine information in amachine-specific data format outputted from the machine to indicate thestate of the machine, converting the first machine information intosecond machine information in an operation software application-specificdata format according to the base software application, and outputtingthe second machine information to the operation software application;and

by the computer, executing the operation software application that usesthe second machine information as input information.

Another aspect may be a machine control method for controlling at leastone machine by a machine control computer in which a base softwareapplication and an operation software application are installed. Themachine control method includes the steps of:

by the computer, receiving first machine information in amachine-specific data format outputted from the machine to indicate thestate of the machine, converting the first machine information intosecond machine information in an operation software application-specificdata format according to the base software application, and outputtingthe second machine information to the operation software application;and

by the computer, generating first command information in the operationsoftware application-specific data format based on the second machineinformation according to the operation software application, convertingthe first command information into second command information in themachine-specific data format according to the base software application,and transmitting the second command information to the machine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects, features, and advantages of the present invention and otherobjects, features, and advantages thereof will be more apparent from thefollowing detailed description of a typical embodiment of the presentinvention shown in the attached drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the configuration of a machine systemaccording to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a drawing of hardware configurations of a management computerand machines shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a drawing schematically showing an example of data models usedwhen converting first machine information into second machineinformation;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an operation in which the first machineinformation from the machine is converted into the second machineinformation and the second machine information is outputted to anoperation software application; and

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an operation in which first command informationfrom the operation software application is converted into second commandinformation and the second information is transmitted to the machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Next, an embodiment of the disclosure will be described with referenceto the drawings. In the drawings, the same components and functionalparts are indicated with the same reference numerals. For ease ofunderstanding, the drawings are appropriately scaled up or down. Theembodiment shown in the drawings is just an example to embody thepresent invention, and the present invention is not limited to theembodiment.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a machinesystem according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1, a machine system 10 according to the embodimentincludes two machines 11 and 12 and a machine management personalcomputer (hereinafter abbreviated as management computer) communicablyconnected to the machines 11 and 12. A base software application 13 andan operation software application 14 are installed in the managementcomputer 25. Although FIG. 1 includes the two machines 11 and 12, thenumber of machines is not limited in the present invention as long asthere is at least one machine.

The base software application 13 includes a first communication module15, which is a program portion to enable the management computer 25 toreceive first machine information outputted from each machine 11 or 12and transmit second command information to each machine 11 or 12.Furthermore, the base software application 13 includes a secondcommunication module 16, which is a program portion to enable themanagement computer 25 to input first command information from theoperation software application 14 and output second machine informationto the operation software application 14. The base software application13 also includes a program portion for storing the first machineinformation, the second machine information, the first commandinformation, and the second command information in a memory unit 17included in the management computer 25.

The first machine information and the second machine information areinformation indicating the states of the machines 11 and 12. The firstcommand information and the second command information are informationrepresenting the contents of commands given to the machines 11 and 12.Concrete examples of the information will be described later.

Each machine 11 or 12 has the function of outputting the state of themachine 11 or 12 to the management computer 25 as the first machineinformation, and the function of determining an operation to beperformed by the machine 11 or 12 based on the second commandinformation. In other words, upon receiving the second commandinformation, each machine 11 or 12 performs the operation correspondingto the contents of the second command information. The machines 11 and12 are, for example, industrial robots, NC machine tools, or the like.Each machine 11 or 12 has a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and a communicationcontrol unit (not shown) that controls information communication withthe management computer 25.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2, the machines 11 and 12 and themanagement computer 25 are configured in a computer system includingmemories, CPUs (control processing units), communication control units,etc., connected through buses. The memories include ROMs (read onlymemories), RAMs (random access memories), etc. The base softwareapplication 13 and the operation software application 14 according tothis embodiment are appropriately stored in the ROM or RAM of themanagement computer 25. The RAM is used as the memory unit 17 forstoring the first machine information, the second machine information,the first command information, and the second command information. Thefirst communication module 15 and the second communication module 16 areprogram portions (so-called modules) included in the base softwareapplication 13 stored in the ROM or RAM. To achieve the operations ofthe program portions, the CPU of the management computer 25 executes thebase software application 13 and the operation software application 14.

Furthermore, the operation software application 14 is a program thatenables the management computer 25 to generate the first commandinformation for each machine 11 or 12 based on the second machineinformation inputted from the second communication module 16 and outputthe first command information to the second communication module 16.

More specifically, in this embodiment, the first communication module 15is preferably a program portion that enables the management computer 25to receive the first machine information outputted from each machine 11or 12 in association with identification information of each machine 11or 12, and transmit the second command information to each machine 11 or12. The second communication module 16 is preferably a program portionthat enables the management computer 25 to input the first commandinformation from the operation software application 14 in associationwith the identification information of each machine 11 or 12, and outputthe second machine information to each machine 11 or 12 in associationwith the identification information of each machine 11 or 12. Theidentification information of each machine 11 or 12 is, for example, anidentification number assigned to each machine.

The memory unit 17 preferably stores the first machine information, thesecond machine information, the first command information, and thesecond command information in association with the identificationinformation of each machine 11 or 12.

Each machine 11 or 12 preferably transmits the state of the machine 11or 12 to the management computer 25 as the first machine information inassociation with the identification information of each machine 11 or12, and determines an operation to be performed by the machine 11 or 12based on the second command information.

The operation software application 14 is preferably a program thatenables the management computer 25 to generate the first commandinformation for each machine 11 or 12 based on the second machineinformation inputted from the second communication module 16 inassociation with the identification information of each machine 11 or12, and output the first command information to the second communicationmodule 16 in association with the identification information of eachmachine 11 or 12.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the management computer 25 receivesthe first machine information outputted from each machine 11 or 12 toindicate the state of the machine. The management computer 25 convertsthe first machine information into the second machine information by thebase software application 13, and outputs the second machine informationof each machine 11 or 12 to the operation software application 14. Afterthat, the management computer 25 generates the first command informationbased on the second machine information by the operation softwareapplication 14. The management computer 25 converts the first commandinformation into the second command information by the base softwareapplication 13, and transmits the second command information to eachmachine 11 or 12.

In this embodiment, however, the transmissions of the first commandinformation and the second command information, as described above, arenot indispensable. The operation software application 14 may be aprogram that uses the second machine information outputted from thesecond communication module 16 as input information, for example, asoftware application such as an analysis software application or atabulation display software application. In this case, all the firstcommunication module 15 has to do is to enable the management computer25 to receive the first machine information outputted from each machine11 or 12. On the other hand, all the second communication module 16 hasto do is to enable the management computer 25 to output the secondmachine information to the operation software application 14.

The first machine information and the second command informationtransmitted and received between the management computer 25 and eachmachine 11 or 12 are information in a data format specific to eachmachine 11 or 12. On the other hand, the second machine information andthe first command information inputted and outputted between the basesoftware application 13 and the operation software application 14 in themanagement computer 25 are information in a data format specific to theoperation software application 14.

Therefore, the base software application 13 according to this embodimentfurther includes a program portion (hereinafter referred to as a machineinformation conversion unit) to enable the management computer 25 toconvert the first machine information into the second machineinformation, and a program portion (hereinafter referred to as a commandinformation conversion unit) to enable the management computer 25 toconvert the first command information into the second commandinformation.

An example of an aspect in which the management computer 25 convertsfirst machine information in a machine-specific data format into secondmachine information in an operation software application-specific dataformat by the base software application 13, and outputs the secondmachine information to the operation software application 14 will bedescribed. FIG. 3 is a drawing schematically showing this aspect, andFIG. 4 is a flowchart of the operation of the management computer 25including a machine information conversion step shown in FIG. 3.

As shown in FIG. 3, the machines 11 and 12 such as machine tools orindustrial robots, a peripheral device 26, etc., are communicablyconnected to the management computer 25. First information is outputtedfrom each of the machines 11 and 12 and the peripheral device 26 to themanagement computer 25. The management computer 25 can recognize whichmachine the first machine information belongs to from machine-specificidentification information associated with the first machineinformation. However, the first machine information transmitted from onemachine 11 to the management computer 25 is not limited to just one kindof information. For example, when the machine 11 is a multipathcontrollable multiaxial NC machine tool and a CNC (computerizednumerical controller) of the machine 11 controls a first axis of themachine 11 using a first motor and a second motor according to a secondsystem program, the current values of the first motor and the secondmotor are each transmitted to the management computer 25 as the firstmachine information. Furthermore, if the CNC executes a first systemprogram simultaneously with the second system program, the currentvalues of motors for each axis controlled by the first system are alsotransmitted to the management computer 25 as the first machineinformation. Since the first machine information just indicates whichmotors the current values correspond to, it is not easy to know that thecurrent values of the motors correspond to which axes controlled bywhich system programs executed by the CNC of the machine 11. The firstmachine information is in a machine-specific data format, not structureddata (so-called definite format data). Thus, the first machineinformation is difficult to deal with in data analysis, when theoperation software application 14 is, for example, a machine informationanalysis software application, a tabulation display softwareapplication, or the like. In order to allow the operation softwareapplication to deal with machine-specific information in real time, thefirst machine information in the machine-specific data format isrequired to be converted into the second machine information in anoperation software application-specific data format.

For this reason, the memory unit 17 of the management computer 25preferably stores information (hereinafter referred to as a data model)27, 28, and 29 that represent the subordination of a plurality ofdevices used in each of the machine 11, the machine 12, and theperipheral device 26, etc., in advance.

For example, when the machine 11 is the multiaxial NC machine tool, asdescribed above, the data model 27 may be a tree-type or network-typedata structure that represents the subordination of devices such as amonitor, a CNC, a power supply, a servo amplifier, a feed shaft, amotor, etc., constituting the NC machine tool. In this case, the datamodel 27 preferably contains specification information of each device.

The CPU of the management computer 25 can convert first machineinformation i.e. “current value” outputted from the first motor of themachine 11 into second machine information i.e. “machine 11/CNC/secondsystem/first axis/first motor/current value”, with reference to the datamodel 27 as described above. This conversion process facilitatesidentifying the current value outputted from the machine 11 as a currentvalue of the first motor of the first axis controlled by the secondsystem program executed by the CNC of the machine 11. That is, in orderto allow the operation software application 14 to deal with firstmachine information in an indefinite format from the machines 11 and 12,the first machine information can be converted into definite formatinformation (so-called structured data) containing the first machineinformation and information about all devices derived from the firstmachine information.

The current value of the motor is described above as a part of the firstmachine information and the second machine information, but the presentinvention is not limited thereto. A part of the first machineinformation and the second machine information include information aboutat least one of an operating time of the machine 11 or 12, the currentvalue, vibration value, generated temperature, and sound volume of amotor, and position information of each machine 11 or 12.

As described above, when the first machine information is converted intothe second machine information according to the machine informationconversion unit of the base software application 13, the managementcomputer 25 performs the conversion based on the data models 27 to 29stored in the memory unit 17. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 4,when the management computer 25 receives first machine information (stepS11), the management computer 25 identifies a data model correspondingto a machine from the memory unit 17 based on identification informationof the machine associated with the received first machine information(step S12). The management computer 25 converts the first machineinformation into second machine information based on the identified datamodel (step S13), and outputs the second machine information to theoperation software application 14 (step S14). In step S14, the secondmachine information is preferably outputted to the operation softwareapplication 14 in association with the identification information of theidentified machine. The above operation is realized by enabling themanagement computer 25 to execute the machine information conversionunit of the base software application 13.

Although the conversion of the machine information is described above,the conversion of the command information can be performed in the samemanner. When first command information is converted into second commandinformation according to the command information conversion unit of thebase software application 13, the management computer 25 performs theconversion based on the data models 27 to 29 stored in the memory unit17. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the management computer 25converts first command information based on second machine informationby the operation software application 14 (step S21). At this time, themachine-specific identification information is preferably associatedwith the generated first command information. The management computer 25identifies a data model corresponding to a machine from the memory unit17 based on the identification information of the machine associatedwith the generated first command information (step S22). The managementcomputer 25 converts the first command information into second commandinformation based on the identified data model (step S23), and transmitsthe second command information to the machine corresponding to theidentified data model (step S24). The above operation is realized byenabling the management computer 25 to execute the command informationconversion unit of the base software application 13.

In the above example of the multiaxial NC machine tool, the firstcommand information that represents what operation is commanded to whichdevice included in which machine e.g. “machine 11/CNC/secondsystem/first axis/first motor/current command value” can be convertedinto the second command information e.g. “current command value” basedon the data model 27, and the current command value can be outputted tothe first motor for driving the first axis of the second system of theCNC in the machine 11.

In the machine system 10 according to this embodiment, the machines 11and 12 are installed in, for example, a plant for manufacturingproducts. On the other hand, the base software application 13 isinstalled in the management computer 25 disposed in, for example,another building in the site of the plant having the machines 11 and 12.In this case, the management computer 25 is preferably connected to eachmachine 11 or 12 so as to establish intercommunication therewith over anintranet e.g. a fieldbus network. The management computer 25 is acomputer for machine control. Furthermore, the management computer 25 ispreferably connected to a host computer 24 (refer to FIG. 2) disposed ine.g. an office in a remote location so as to establishintercommunication therewith over the Internet. The host computer 24 is,for example, a manufacturing execution system (MES) that makes aproduction plan for the machines 11 and 12 and manages a productionstate in the office.

The base software application 13 and the operation software application14 are preferably installed in the management computer 25 fromcomputer-readable portable recording mediums using well-known setupprograms or the like. The portable recording medium is, for example, aCD-ROM (compact disk read only memory unit), a DVD-ROM (digitalversatile disk read only memory unit), or the like. When the basesoftware application 13 and the operation software application 14 areeach recorded in the recording mediums, the management computer 25preferably includes drives for the recording mediums. The base softwareapplication 13 and the operation software application 14 may bedownloaded from other computers connected to the management computer 25through the Internet, Ethernet (trademark), or the like.

The base software application 13 according to this embodiment can be abase i.e. a software platform for running not only a single operationsoftware application 14 but a plurality of operation softwareapplications 14 for performing different types of processing. In thiscase, each operation software application 14 preferably includes inadvance identification information assigned to a machine to whichinformation processing is to be performed, and each operation softwareapplication 14 is preferably programmed so as to obtain second machineinformation based on the identification information of the machine.Thus, even when the plurality of operation software applications 14 areinstalled in the management computer 25, the management computer 25 canrecognize that the second machine information belongs to which machineprocessed by which operation software application 14, from theidentification information of the machine associated with the secondmachine information.

The base software application 13 does not include only the firstcommunication module 15, the second communication module 16, the machineinformation conversion unit, and the command information conversion unitas described above. The base software application 13 preferably includesvarious types of other program portions such as a determination unit, athird communication module 20, a fourth communication module 22, abilling processing unit, and a version management unit to be executed bythe CPU of the management computer 25.

To be more specific, in the machine system 10 according to thisembodiment, the base software application 13 preferably further includesa determination unit (not shown) that is a program portion to enable themanagement computer 25 to determine whether the operation softwareapplication 14 is appropriate or inappropriate. When the determinationunit determines the operation software application 14 to beinappropriate, the CPU of the management computer 25 is preferablydisabled from executing the second communication module 16. In thiscase, the operation software application 14 preferably includescertification record information 18, which is based on information abouta maker of the operation software application 14 and an examinationresult of the operation software application 14. For example, the makerof the operation software application 14 actually installs a generatedoperation software application 14 in a computer system identical to themanagement computer 25, and approves the operation software application14 as a safe product, when an examination result is favorable. The makerrecords information about the approval on the operation softwareapplication 14 together with the maker information. The informationrecorded at this time may be the certification record information 18described above. Note that, a maker of the base software application 13or the like may give the approval based on an examination result of theoperation software application 14 by the maker of the operation softwareapplication 14.

In this configuration, a part of the first command information to beinputted from the operation software application 14 to the base softwareapplication 13 is the certification record information 18. When thedetermination unit determines that the certification record information18 is inappropriate, for example, when the maker is unidentified orthere is no information about approval, the base software application 13preferably disables the CPU of the management computer 25 from executingthe second communication module 16. Thus, when the operation softwareapplication 14 is inappropriate, a communication control unit (notshown), which is a hardware interface of the management computer 25, canbe disabled from functioning. In other words, when the operationsoftware application 14 is unapproved, the base software application 13does not transmit and receive the machine information and the commandinformation between the operation software application 14 and the basesoftware application 13.

Also, at least one of the base software application 13 and the operationsoftware application 14 preferably further includes a billing processingunit that is a program portion to enable the CPU of the managementcomputer 25 to execute billing processing based on usage of at least oneof the base software application 13 and the operation softwareapplication 14 to charge a user for a usage fee. The billing processingunit preferably enables the CPU of the management computer 25 todetermine whether or not the usage fee for at least one of the basesoftware application 13 and the operation software application 14 hasbeen paid.

The billing processing unit is preferably a program portion to enablethe CPU of the management computer 25 to monitor the duration of use ofat least one of the base software application 13 and the operationsoftware application 14 from a starting point, and generate fee paymentinformation and output the fee payment information to the firstcommunication module 15 at established intervals. The fee paymentinformation is information required by the CPU of the managementcomputer 25 to determine whether or not a usage fee for at least one ofthe base software application 13 and the operation software application14 has been paid. The fee payment information is information to let auser input a payment certification code that is obtained in exchange forpayment of the usage fee to a maker of the management computer 25, acollecting agent commissioned by the maker, a collecting machine of thecollecting agent, or the like, a credit card number of a credit cardcompany designated by the maker, or the like.

According to this configuration, for example, the first communicationmodule 15 can enable the management computer 25 to control thetransmission and reception of information to and from each machine 11 or12 based on the fee payment information on the base software application13 or the operation software application 14. For example, when thepayment certification code, which can determine the presence or absenceof payment, or the like is not inputted to the management computer 25,the management computer 25 stops or decelerates communication with eachmachine 11 or 12.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1, the base software application 13preferably further includes a third communication module 20 that is aprogram portion to enable the management computer 25 to communicate withan external device such as a monitor 19. In this configuration, theabove billing processing unit is preferably a program portion thatenables the CPU of the management computer 25 to monitor the duration ofuse of at least one of the base software application 13 and theoperation software application 14 from a starting point, and generatefee payment information and output the fee payment information to thefirst communication module 15 at established intervals.

According to this configuration, for example, the third communicationmodule 20 can enable the management computer 25 to display a warningmessage about the absence of payment on the monitor 19, based on the feepayment information on the base software application 13 or the operationsoftware application 14. For example, when a payment certification code,which determines the presence or absence of payment, or the like is notinputted to the management computer 25, the management computer 25displays a message indicating that payment cannot be ascertained, on themonitor 19.

The starting point of the monitoring is, for example, the timing ofinstalling at least one of the base software application 13 and theoperation software application 14. The starting point may be the date ofpurchase of at least one of the base software application 13 and theoperation software application 14.

The above billing processing unit enables the management computer 25 tocharge a usage fee in accordance with the duration of use of at leastone of the base software application 13 and the operation softwareapplication 14 from a starting point, but the present invention is notlimited thereto.

For example, the billing processing unit may enable the managementcomputer 25 not to charge a usage fee, when the duration of use of atleast one of the base software application 13 and the operation softwareapplication 14 from a starting point is within a certain time period.

The billing processing unit may enable the management computer 25 todetermine the duration of use of at least one of the base softwareapplication 13 and the operation software application 14 in accordancewith a fixed fee payment status of at least one of the base softwareapplication 13 and the operation software application 14. For example, afixed usage fee, e.g. a monthly fee or an annual fee for the basesoftware application 13 is set. When starting executing the basesoftware application 13 or the operation software application 14, ifinformation to determine the presence or absence of payment of the fixedusage fee for the base software application 13 e.g. a paymentcertification code has already been inputted to the management computer25, the management computer 25 permits communication with the machines11 and 12 etc., for an indefinite or definite duration.

The billing processing unit may monitor a communication traffic volumeon at least one of the base software application 13 and the operationsoftware application 14, and enable the management computer 25 toexecute the billing processing in accordance with the communicationtraffic volume. In this case, the management computer 25 obtains acommunication traffic volume of at least one of the first machineinformation and the second command information communicated with themachines 11 and 12, calculates a fee based on the communication trafficvolume, and controls communication with the machines 11 and 12 inaccordance with the payment status of the fee.

The billing processing unit may monitor an information throughput whenprocessing first machine information outputted from each machine 11 or12 by the base software application 13 and an information throughputwhen processing second machine information outputted from the basesoftware application 13 by the operation software application 14, andenable the management computer 25 to execute the billing processingaccording to the information throughput.

The billing processing unit may count the number of executions of atleast one of the base software application 13 and the operation softwareapplication 14, and enable the management computer 25 to execute thebilling processing in accordance with the number of executions.

The billing processing unit may recognize the number of machinesconnected to the management computer 25, and enable the managementcomputer 25 to execute the billing processing in accordance with therecognized number of machines. In this case, the number of connectedmachines may be recognized by energization states of connectionterminals of the management computer 25 provided for connection with themachines 11 and 12, etc.

The billing processing unit may recognize the number of peopleregistered as users with the management computer 25, and enable themanagement computer 25 to execute the billing processing in accordancewith the recognized number of users. In this case, the billingprocessing unit may recognize the number of users of the managementcomputer 25 based on user names and passwords inputted to a loginscreen.

In the above machine system 10, the base software application 13preferably further includes a version management unit that is a programportion to enable the management computer 25 to manage the version(version number) of at least one of the base software application 13 andthe operation software application 14. In this case, as shown in FIG. 1,the machine system 10 preferably further includes a second memory unit21 that stores the latest version number of at least one of the basesoftware application 13 and the operation software application 14. Inthis configuration, the base software application 13 preferably furtherincludes a fourth communication module 22 that is a program portion toenable the management computer 25 to check the contents of the secondmemory unit 21 by mutual communication with the second memory unit 21.When the latest version number of at least one of the base softwareapplication 13 and the operation software application 14 stored in thesecond memory unit 21 is later than the current version number of thesoftware (13 or 14), the version management unit preferably enables themanagement computer 25 to output the latest version number to the firstcommunication module 15 or the third communication module 20.

Furthermore, at least one of the base software application 13 and theoperation software application 14 preferably further includes a programportion that enables the management computer 25 to execute licenseauthentication of at least one of the base software application 13 andthe operation software application 14. For example, after the basesoftware application 13 or the operation software application 14 isinstalled in the management computer 25, the management computer 25displays information that requires a user to input a software-specificID e.g. a product key or a digital certificate to the managementcomputer 25 on the monitor 19, before reaching a certain period of timeor a certain running number predetermined for each application. Theproduct key or the digital certificate is preferably issued in exchangefor fee payment for the base software application 13 or the operationsoftware application 14. The management computer 25 checks thesoftware-specific ID inputted by the user in accordance with thedisplayed information, and only when an agreement on license provisionsis verified, the management computer 25 determines that licenseauthentication is completed. The functions of the base softwareapplication 13 or the operation software application 14 are stopped orlimited, while the license authentication is not completed. When aplurality of licenses are provided for each of the base softwareapplication 13 and the operation software application 14, the number ofinstallations or executions of each software application is counted.When the number exceeds a given license number, the functions of theoperation software application 13 or the operation software application14 are preferably stopped or limited.

At least one of the base software application 13 and the operationsoftware application 14 preferably further includes a copy protectionfunction. For example, when the base software application 13 or theoperation software application 14 is copied to a computer other than themanagement computer 25, the copied base software application 13 oroperation software application 14 is preferably encoded so that thecomputer cannot execute the copied base software application 13 oroperation software application 14 without a decode key. The basesoftware application 13 or the operation software application 14 mayhave the function of limiting the number of copies. Otherwise, the basesoftware application 13 or the operation software application 14 itselfmay determine whether or not the base software application 13 or theoperation software application 14 is stored in the management computer25, and when none of the software applications is stored in themanagement computer 25, the base software application 13 or theoperation software application 14 disables execution.

At least one of the base software application 13 and the operationsoftware application 14 preferably includes a program portion thatenables the management computer 25 to add advertisement information toinformation outputted to the external device 19 through the thirdcommunication module 20. This allows the maker of the managementcomputer 25 to advertise the maker's products to a user of themanagement computer 25.

At least one of the base software application 13 and the operationsoftware application 14 preferably includes a program portion thatenables the management computer 25 to provide personal assistance. As anexample of the personal assistance, when a user desires to collectrequired machine information from the machine 11 to the managementcomputer 25, only the required information is preferably collected andoutputted from the management computer 25, upon the user's request tothe management computer 25 for the required information from themachines 11 and 12, etc. As the function of the personal assistance,when a person speaks to a microphone connected to the managementcomputer 25, the management computer 25 may understand spoken words andanswer the words by sound, text, or the like.

The base software application 13 preferably includes a program portionthat enables the management computer 25 to authenticate devicesconnected to the management computer 25, e.g. the machine 11, themachine 12, the peripheral device 26, etc. For example, the managementcomputer 25 can detect the connection of the devices by energizationstates of connection terminals connected to the devices. In response tothe detection of the connection, the management computer 25 receivesspecific identification information e.g. MAC addresses (media accesscontrol addresses) from the devices, and determines whether or not thereceived MAC addresses have already been registered with the managementcomputer 25. When the received MAC addresses have been registered withthe management computer 25, the management computer 25 allowscommunication with the connected devices e.g. the machines 11 and 12.

The machine system 10 preferably includes the host computer 24 connectedto the management computer 25 through the Internet (see FIG. 2). In thiscase, the second communication module 16 of the base softwareapplication 13 preferably enables the management computer 25 to uploadthe first machine information, the second machine information, orinformation related to the first machine information or the secondmachine information to the host computer 24 in response to a commandfrom the host computer 24. In addition, the second communication module16 preferably enables the management computer 25 to download data or aprogram from the host computer 24 to the management computer 25 inresponse to a command from the host computer 24.

A machine learning software application is preferably installed in themanagement computer 25 in order to enable the management computer 25 toexecute machine learning based on the second machine information. Themachine learning includes deep learning, reinforcement learning, etc.The second machine information is definite format information(structured data) as described above, and hence is easy to handle in themachine learning.

In this case, the second communication module 16 of the base softwareapplication 13 preferably enables the management computer 25 to uploaddata after the execution of the machine learning, e.g. a learned modelto the host computer 24 in response to a command from the host computer24. In addition, the second communication module 16 preferably enablesthe management computer 25 to download data or a program for the machinelearning corrected or generated by the host computer 24 to themanagement computer 25 in response to a command from the host computer24.

Concrete examples of the first machine information and the secondcommand information transmitted and received between the managementcomputer 25 and each machine 11 or 12 and the second machine informationand the first command information transmitted and received between thebase software application 13 and the operation software application 14will be described below.

A part of the first machine information and the second machineinformation are, for example, information about at least one of anoperating time of the machine 11 or 12 and the current value, vibrationvalue, generated temperature, and sound volume of a motor. A part of thefirst command information and the second command information areinformation about at least one of a stop or deceleration command for themachine 11 or 12 and a warning display. By transmitting and receivingthe information to and from the base software application 13, the basesoftware application 13 can detect a malfunction of each machine 11 or12.

The first machine information may include position information on themachine 11 or 12. In this case, a part of the second command informationis preferably operation command information for the machine 11 or 12 inorder to prevent interference between the machines by issuing a stopcommand to the machine having a lower priority, when the relativeposition between the machines 11 and 12 is within a certain distance. Bytransmitting and receiving the information to and from the base softwareapplication 13, the base software application 13 can prevent theinterference between the machines 11 and 12.

The first machine information may include operation receptioninformation and operation completion information on the machine 11 or12. In this case, a part of the second command information is preferablyoperation command information including at least one of a choice ofcontents, an operation sequence, an actuation of the machine 11 or 12,and a stop of the machine 11 or 12 as to operations stored in advance inthe machine 11 or 12. By transmitting and receiving the information toand from the base software application 13, the base software application13 can manage the operation state of each machine 11 or 12.

The first machine information may include information about the state ofan object to be operated of the machine 11 or 12. In this case, a partof the second command information is preferably operation change commandinformation to change the operation of the machine 11 or 12 inaccordance with the state of the object to be operated. By transmittingand receiving the information to and from the base software application13, the base software application 13 can correct, complement, or examinethe operation of each machine 11 or 12 in accordance with the state ofthe object to be operated of each machine 11 or 12.

The first machine information may include scheduled operationinformation on the machine 11 or 12. In this case, a part of the secondcommand information is preferably a determination result of whether thescheduled operation of the machine 11 or 12 is appropriate orinappropriate. By transmitting and receiving the information to and fromthe base software application 13, the base software application 13 cancheck a simulation result of the operation of the machine 11 or 12.

Note that, each machine 11 or 12 is not limited to the machine tool orthe industrial robot, but may be a PLC (programmable logic controller),a carrier, a measuring instrument, a tester, a pressing machine, a pressfitting machine, a printer, a die cast machine, an injection moldingmachine, a food machine, a packaging machine, a welder, a washer, acoating machine, an assembling machine, a mounting machine, a woodworking machine, a sealing machine, a cutter, or the like.

Each memory unit 17 or 21 is, for example, a memory device such as a RAM(random access memory unit), a fixed disk drive such as a hard disk, amagnetic tape drive, a magnetic disk drive, an optical disk drive, orthe like.

As described above, according to the machine system 10 of thisembodiment, the transmission and reception of information among the basesoftware application 13, the operation software application 14, and eachmachine 11 or 12 allows storing and managing the information at the timeof the transmission and reception, while performing the operation ofeach machine. For example, the transmission and reception of theinformation may be limited based on the certification record informationincluded in the operation software application 14. The fee paymentinformation on the operation software application 14 or the basesoftware application 13 may be outputted to the first communicationmodule 15 or the third communication module 20.

The present invention is described above using the typical embodiment,but those skilled in the art can recognize that the above embodiment canbe variously modified, omitted, or added without departing from thescope of the present invention.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A machine system, comprising: a machine;and a machine control computer communicatably connected to the machineand comprising one or more control processing units and one or morememory units, a base software application and an operation softwareapplication being installed in the machine control computer, wherein thebase software application includes: a first communication module being aprogram portion to enable the machine control computer to receive firstmachine information in a data format specific to the machine outputtedfrom the machine to the machine control computer; a second communicationmodule being a program portion to enable the machine control computer tooutput second machine information in a data format specific to theoperation software application to the operation software application; aprogram portion to store the first machine information and the secondmachine information in a first memory unit included in the one or morememory units of the machine control computer; and a program portion toenable the machine control computer to convert the first machineinformation into the second machine information based on an identifieddata model corresponding to the machine from the first memory unit,wherein the machine has a function of outputting a state of the machineto the machine control computer as the first machine information, andwherein the operation software application is a program using the secondmachine information outputted from the second communication module asinput information.
 2. The machine system according to claim 1, whereinthe first memory unit stores in advance data models representing asubordination of a plurality of devices constituting the machine, andwhen converting the first machine information into the second machineinformation by the base software application, the machine controlcomputer performs a conversion based on the data models stored inadvance in the first memory unit.
 3. The machine system according toclaim 1, wherein the base software application further includes adetermination unit being a program portion to enable the machine controlcomputer to determine whether the operation software application isappropriate or inappropriate, and when the determination unit determinesthat the operation software application is inappropriate, the basesoftware application disables the machine control computer fromexecuting the second communication module.
 4. The machine systemaccording to claim 1, wherein at least one of the base softwareapplication and the operation software application further includes abilling processing unit being a program portion to enable the machinecontrol computer to charge a fee based on usage of at least one of thebase software application and the operation software application.
 5. Themachine system according to claim 4, wherein the billing processing unitis a program portion to enable the machine control computer to monitor aduration of use of at least one of the base software application and theoperation software application from a starting point, and, atestablished intervals, generate information about payment of the fee andoutput the information about payment of the fee to the firstcommunication module.
 6. The machine system according to claim 5,wherein the starting point is a timing of installing at least one of thebase software application and the operation software application.
 7. Themachine system according to claim 5, wherein the starting point is adate of purchase of at least one of the base software application andthe operation software application.
 8. The machine system according toclaim 4, wherein the operation software application further includes athird communication module being a program portion to enable the machinecontrol computer to communicate with an external device, and the billingprocessing unit is a program portion to enable the machine controlcomputer to monitor a duration of use of at least one of the basesoftware application and the operation software application from astarting point, and, at established intervals, generate informationabout payment of the fee and output the information about payment of thefee to the third communication module.
 9. The machine system accordingto claim 4, wherein the billing processing unit enables the machinecontrol computer to charge the fee in accordance with a communicationtraffic volume on at least one of the base software application and theoperation software application.
 10. The machine system according toclaim 4, wherein the billing processing unit enables the machine controlcomputer to charge the fee in accordance with a number of executions ofat least one of the base software application and the operation softwareapplication.
 11. The machine system according to claim 4, wherein thebilling processing unit enables the machine control computer to chargethe fee in accordance with a number of machines connected to the machinecontrol computer.
 12. The machine system according to claim 4, whereinthe billing processing unit enables the machine control computer tocharge the fee in accordance with at least one of an informationthroughput when processing the first machine information by the basesoftware application and an information throughput when processing thesecond machine information by the operation software application. 13.The machine system according to claim 4, wherein the billing processingunit enables the machine control computer to charge the fee inaccordance with a number of people who have used the machine controlcomputer.
 14. The machine system according to claim 4, wherein thebilling processing unit enables the machine control computer todetermine a duration of use of at least one of the base softwareapplication and the operation software application in accordance with apayment status of a usage fee predetermined for at least one of the basesoftware application and the operation software application.
 15. Themachine system according to claim 4, wherein the billing processing unitdisables the machine control computer from charging the fee, when aduration of use of at least one of the base software application and theoperation software application from a starting point is within a certaintime period.
 16. The machine system according to claim 4, wherein thebilling processing unit enables the machine control computer todetermine whether or not payment of the fee is completed.
 17. Themachine system according to claim 1, wherein the base softwareapplication further includes a version management unit being a programportion to enable the machine control computer to manage a versionnumber of at least one of the base software application and theoperation software application.
 18. The machine system according toclaim 17, wherein a second memory unit included in the one or morememory units of the machine control computer stores a latest versionnumber of at least one of the base software application and theoperation software application, the base software application furtherincludes a third communication module being a program portion to enablethe machine control computer to check contents of the second memoryunit, and the version management unit is a program portion to enable themachine control computer to output the latest version number of at leastone of the base software application and the operation softwareapplication to the third communication module, when the latest versionnumber of at least one of the base software application and theoperation software application stored in the second memory unit is laterthan a current version number of at least one of the base softwareapplication and the operation software application.
 19. The machinesystem according to claim 17, wherein: a second memory unit included inthe one or more memory units of the machine control computer stores alatest version number of at least one of the base software applicationand the operation software application, the base software applicationfurther includes a third communication module being a program portion toenable the machine control computer to communicate with an externaldevice, and a fourth communication module being a program portion toenable the machine control computer to check contents of the secondmemory unit, and the version management unit is a program portion toenable the machine control computer to output the latest version numberof at least one of the base software application and the operationsoftware application to the third communication module, when the latestversion number of at least one of the base software application and theoperation software application stored in the second memory unit is laterthan a current version number of at least one of the base softwareapplication and the operation software application.
 20. The machinesystem according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the base softwareapplication and the operation software application includes a programportion to enable the machine control computer to execute licenseauthentication of at least one of the base software application and theoperation software application.
 21. The machine system according toclaim 1, wherein at least one of the base software application and theoperation software application has a copy protection function.
 22. Themachine system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the basesoftware application and the operation software application includes aprogram portion to enable the machine control computer to addadvertisement information to information to be outputted outside themachine control computer.
 23. The machine system according to claim 1,wherein at least one of the base software application and the operationsoftware application includes a program portion to enable the machinecontrol computer to execute personal assistance.
 24. The machine systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the base software application includes aprogram portion to enable the machine control computer to authenticatethe machine connected to the machine control computer.
 25. The machinesystem according to claim 1, wherein a machine learning softwareapplication is installed in the machine control computer to enable themachine control computer to perform machine learning based on the secondmachine information.
 26. The machine system according to claim 1,further comprising: a host computer connected to the machine controlcomputer through the Internet, wherein the second communication moduleenables the machine control computer to upload the first machineinformation or the second machine information to the host computer inresponse to a command from the host computer.
 27. The machine systemaccording to claim 1, further comprising: a host computer connected tothe machine control computer through the Internet, wherein the secondcommunication module enables the machine control computer to downloaddata or a program from the host computer to the machine control computerin response to a command from the host computer.
 28. The machine systemaccording to claim 1, wherein a part of the first machine informationand the second machine information are information about at least one ofan operating time of the machine, a current value, a vibration value, agenerated temperature, a sound volume of a motor, and positioninformation of the machine.
 29. The machine system according to claim 1,wherein the machine is a production machine or an industrial robot. 30.A machine system, comprising: at least two machines; and a machinecontrol computer communicatably connected to the at least two machinesand comprising one or more control processing units and one or morememory units, a base software application and an operation softwareapplication being installed in the machine control computer, wherein thebase software application includes: a first communication module being aprogram portion to enable the machine control computer to receive firstmachine information in a data format specific to each machine of the atleast two machines outputted from each machine of the at least twomachines in association with identification information of each machineof the at least two machines to the machine control computer; a secondcommunication module being a program portion to enable the machinecontrol computer to output second machine information in a data formatspecific to the operation software application to the operation softwareapplication in association with the identification information of eachmachine of the at least two machines; a program portion to store thefirst machine information and the second machine information in a memoryunit included in the one or more memory units of the machine controlcomputer in association with the identification information of eachmachine of the at least two machines; and a program portion to enablethe machine control computer to convert the first machine informationinto the second machine information based on an identified data modelcorresponding to each machine of the at least two machines from thememory unit, wherein each machine of the at least two machines has afunction of outputting a state of each machine of the at least twomachines to the machine control computer as the first machineinformation in association with the identification information of eachmachine of the at least two machines, and wherein the operation softwareapplication is a program using the second machine information outputtedfrom the second communication module as input information.
 31. A machinesystem, comprising: a machine; and a machine control computercommunicatably connected to the machine and comprising one or morecontrol processing units and one or more memory units, a base softwareapplication and an operation software application being installed in themachine control computer, wherein the base software applicationincludes: a first communication module being a program portion to enablethe machine control computer to receive first machine information in adata format specific to the machine outputted from the machine to themachine control computer, and transmit second command information in thedata format specific to the machine to the machine; a secondcommunication module being a program portion to enable the machinecontrol computer to input first command information in a data formatspecific to the operation software application from the operationsoftware application, and output second machine information in the dataformat specific to the operation software application to the operationsoftware application; a program portion to store the first machineinformation, the second machine information, the first commandinformation, and the second command information in a memory unitincluded in the one or more memory units of the machine controlcomputer; a program portion to enable the machine control computer toconvert the first machine information into the second machineinformation based on an identified data model corresponding to themachine from the memory unit; and a program portion to enable themachine control computer to convert the first command information intothe second command information based on the identified data modelcorresponding to the machine from the memory unit, wherein the machinehas functions of outputting a state of the machine to the machinecontrol computer as the first machine information, and determining anoperation to be performed by the machine based on the second commandinformation, and wherein the operation software application is a programto enable the machine control computer to generate the first commandinformation for the machine based on the second machine informationinputted from the second communication module, and output the firstcommand information to the second communication module.
 32. The machinesystem according to claim 31, wherein the base software applicationfurther includes a determination unit being a program portion to enablethe machine control computer to determine whether the operation softwareapplication is appropriate or inappropriate, the operation softwareapplication includes certification record information based on makerinformation of the operation software application and an examinationresult of the operation software application, a part of the firstcommand information is the certification record information, and whenthe determination unit determines that the certification recordinformation is inappropriate, the base software application disables themachine control computer from executing the second communication module.33. The machine system according to claim 31, wherein a part of thefirst machine information and the second machine information areinformation about at least one of an operating time of the machine, acurrent value, a vibration value, a generated temperature, and a soundvolume of a motor, and a part of the first command information and thesecond command information are information about at least one of a stopor deceleration command for the machine and a warning display.
 34. Themachine system according to claim 31, wherein a part of the firstmachine information is position information of the machine, and when arelative position between a plurality of machines is within a certaindistance, a part of the second command information is operation commandinformation for the plurality of machines in order to preventinterference between the plurality of machines by issuing a stop commandto a machine having a lower priority.
 35. The machine system accordingto claim 31, wherein a part of the first machine information isoperation reception information and operation completion information onthe machine, and a part of the second command information is operationcommand information including at least one of a choice of contents, anoperation sequence, an actuation of the machine, and a stop of themachine as to an operation stored in advance in the machine.
 36. Themachine system according to claim 31, wherein a part of the firstmachine information is information about a state of an object to beoperated at the machine, and a part of the second command information isoperation change command information to change the operation on themachine in accordance with the state of the object to be operated at themachine.
 37. The machine system according to claim 31, wherein a part ofthe first machine information is scheduled operation information on themachine, and a part of the second command information is a determinationresult of whether a scheduled operation of the machine is appropriate orinappropriate.
 38. A machine control computer communicatably connectedto a machine, the machine control computer comprising: one or morecontrol processing units; one or more memory units; a base softwareapplication installed in the machine control computer; and an operationsoftware application installed in the machine control computer, whereinthe base software application includes: a first communication modulebeing a program portion to enable the machine control computer toreceive first machine information in a data format specific to themachine outputted from the machine to the machine control computer; asecond communication module being a program portion to enable themachine control computer to output second machine information in a dataformat specific to the operation software application to the operationsoftware application; a program portion to store the first machineinformation and the second machine information in a memory unit includedin the one or more memory units of the machine control computer; and aprogram portion to enable the machine control computer to convert thefirst machine information into the second machine information based onan identified data model corresponding to the machine from the memoryunit, wherein the machine has a function of outputting a state of themachine to the machine control computer as the first machineinformation, and wherein the operation software application is a programusing the second machine information outputted from the secondcommunication module as input information.
 39. A machine controlcomputer communicatably connected to at least two machines, comprising:one or more control processing units; one or more memory units; a basesoftware application installed in the machine control computer; and anoperation software application installed in the machine controlcomputer, wherein the base software application includes: a firstcommunication module being a program portion to enable the machinecontrol computer to receive first machine information in a data formatspecific to each machine of the at least two machines outputted fromeach machine of the at least two machines in association withidentification information of each machine of the at least two machinesto the machine control computer; a second communication module being aprogram portion to enable the machine control computer to output secondmachine information in a data format specific to the operation softwareapplication to the operation software application in association withthe identification information of each machine of the at least twomachines; a program portion to store the first machine information andthe second machine information in a memory unit included in the one ormore memory units of the machine control computer in association withthe identification information of each machine of the at least twomachines; and a program portion to enable the machine control computerto convert the first machine information into the second machineinformation based on an identified data model corresponding to eachmachine of the at least two machines from the memory unit, wherein eachmachine of the at least two machines has a function of outputting astate of each machine of the at least two machines to the machinecontrol computer as the first machine information in association withthe identification information of each machine of the at least twomachines, and wherein the operation software application is a programusing the second machine information outputted from the secondcommunication module as input information.
 40. A machine controlcomputer communicatably connected to a machine, comprising: one or morecontrol processing units; one or more memory units; a base softwareapplication installed in the machine control computer; and an operationsoftware application installed in the machine control computer, whereinthe base software application includes: a first communication modulebeing a program portion to enable the machine control computer toreceive first machine information in a data format specific to themachine outputted from the machine to the machine control computer, andtransmit second command information in the data format specific to themachine to the machine; a second communication module being a programportion to enable the machine control computer to input first commandinformation in a data format specific to the operation softwareapplication from the operation software application, and output secondmachine information in the data format specific to the operationsoftware application to the operation software application; a programportion to store the first machine information, the second machineinformation, the first command information, and the second commandinformation in a memory unit included in the one or more memory units ofthe machine control computer; a program portion to enable the machinecontrol computer to convert the first machine information into thesecond machine information based on an identified data modelcorresponding to the machine from the memory unit; and a program portionto enable the machine control computer to convert the first commandinformation into the second command information based on the identifieddata model corresponding to the machine from the memory unit, whereinthe machine has functions of outputting a state of the machine to themachine control computer as the first machine information, anddetermining an operation to be performed by the machine based on thesecond command information, and wherein the operation softwareapplication is a program to enable the machine control computer togenerate the first command information for the machine based on thesecond machine information inputted from the second communicationmodule, and output the first command information to the secondcommunication module.
 41. A non-transitory computer-readable recordingmedium for storing a base software application to be installed in amachine control computer communicatably connected to a machine, togetherwith an operation software application, the base software applicationenabling the machine control computer to execute the steps of: receivingfirst machine information in a data format specific to the machineoutputted from the machine to the machine control computer; outputtingsecond machine information in a data format specific to the operationsoftware application to the operation software application; storing thefirst machine information and the second machine information in a memoryunit included in the machine control computer; converting the firstmachine information into the second machine information based on anidentified data model corresponding to the machine from the memory unit;and outputting the second machine information to the operation softwareapplication as input information, wherein the machine has a function ofoutputting a state of the machine to the machine control computer as thefirst machine information.
 42. A non-transitory computer-readablerecording medium for storing a base software application to be installedin a machine control computer communicatably connected to at least twomachines, together with an operation software application, the basesoftware application enabling the machine control computer to executethe steps of: receiving first machine information in a data formatspecific to each machine of the at least two machines outputted fromeach machine of the at least two machines in association withidentification information of each machine of the at least two machinesto the machine control computer; outputting second machine informationin a data format specific to the operation software application to theoperation software application in association with the identificationinformation of each machine of the at least two machines; storing thefirst machine information and the second machine information in a memoryunit included in the machine control computer in association with theidentification information of each machine of the at least two machines;converting the first machine information into the second machineinformation based on an identified data model corresponding to eachmachine of the at least two machines from the memory unit; andoutputting the second machine information to the operation softwareapplication in association with the identification information of eachmachine of the at least two machines as input information, wherein eachmachine of the at least two machines has a function of outputting astate of each machine of the at least two machines to the machinecontrol computer as the first machine information in association withthe identification information of each machine of the at least twomachines.
 43. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium forstoring a base software application to be installed in a machine controlcomputer communicatably connected to a machine, together with anoperation software application, the base software application enablingthe machine control computer to execute the steps of: receiving firstmachine information in a data format specific to the machine outputtedfrom the machine to the machine control computer; transmitting secondcommand information in the data format specific to the machine to themachine; inputting first command information in a data format specificto the operation software application from the operation softwareapplication; outputting second machine information in the data formatspecific to the operation software application to the operation softwareapplication; storing the first machine information, the second machineinformation, the first command information, and the second commandinformation in a memory unit included in the machine control computer;converting the first machine information into the second machineinformation based on an identified data model corresponding to themachine from the memory unit; and converting the first commandinformation into the second command information based on the identifieddata model corresponding to the machine from the memory unit, whereinthe machine has functions of outputting a state of the machine to themachine control computer as the first machine information, anddetermining an operation to be performed by the machine based on thesecond command information, and wherein the operation softwareapplication is a program to enable the machine control computer togenerate the first command information for the machine based on thesecond machine information.
 44. A machine control method for controllingat least one machine by a machine control computer having a basesoftware application and an operation software application installedtherein, the machine control method comprising the following stepsperformed by the machine control computer: receiving first machineinformation in a data format specific to the at least one machineoutputted from the at least one machine to the machine control computer;outputting second machine information in a data format specific to theoperation software application to the operation software application;storing the first machine information and the second machine informationin a memory unit included in the machine control computer; convertingthe first machine information into the second machine information basedon an identified data model corresponding to the at least one machinefrom the memory unit; and outputting the second machine information tothe operation software application as input information, wherein the atleast one machine has a function of outputting a state of the at leastone machine to the machine control computer as the first machineinformation.
 45. A machine control method for controlling at least onemachine by a machine control computer having a base software applicationand an operation software application installed therein, the machinecontrol method comprising the following steps performed by the machinecontrol computer: receiving first machine information in a data formatspecific to the at least one machine outputted from the at least onemachine to the machine control computer; transmitting second commandinformation in the data format specific to the at least one machine tothe at least one machine; inputting first command information in a dataformat specific to the operation software application from the operationsoftware application; outputting the second machine information in thedata format specific to the operation software application to theoperation software application; storing the first machine information,the second machine information, the first command information, and thesecond command information in a memory unit included in the machinecontrol computer; converting the first machine information into thesecond machine information based on an identified data modelcorresponding to the at least one machine from the memory unit; andconverting the first command information into the second commandinformation based on the identified data model corresponding to the atleast one machine from the memory unit, wherein the at least one machinehas functions of outputting a state of the at least one machine to themachine control computer as the first machine information, anddetermining an operation to be performed by the at least one machinebased on the second command information, and wherein the operationsoftware application is a program to enable the machine control computerto generate the first command information for the at least one machinebased on the second machine information.